DENNIS ANTHONY PASTANA, 58, died June 6, 2001, in Anchorage. A service was
held June 9 at Walker Funeral Home.
Mr. Pastana was born Nov. 13, 1942, in
Oakland, Calif., and attended Oakland High School. He had served in the Army
National Guard in the early '60s and qualified as a sharpshooter. He moved to
Alaska in October 1971. Through the years, he worked for Alaska Distributors,
K&L Distributors, Lynden Transport and Anchorage School District warehouse. He
was a 40-year Teamster.
Mr. Pastana had been a member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed music, coin collecting, camping,
4-wheeling and bike riding with his grandchildren. His family wrote: "Dennis was
very loved by family and friends. All who knew him, especially his children and
grandchildren, will miss him. His grandchildren have been living in his home the
past couple of years. Dennis thought of it as a second chance to be a better
grandparent than he was a parent ... some of the best times (we) recall were
just sitting around talking or reminiscing. Dennis would toss in one of his own
phrases like 'gizzard lips' and bust everyone into laughter. He was always a
'Big Kid' at heart ... his loving wife of 36 years, Bettye, knows this will
continue on through their children and grandchildren ... families are forever."
Mr. Pastana is survived by his wife, Bettye; son and daughter-in-law, Michael
Pastana of Wasilla and Corrina Pastana of Anchorage; daughter, Barbara Burris of
Anchorage; grandchildren, Mikaelle and Michael Jr. Pastana and Shaylin Burris,
all of Anchorage; father and step-mother, Anthony and Louise Pastana;
step-sister and spouse, Barbara and David Ceruti; brothers- and sisters-in-law,
Rodney and Mary Doering, Charlie and Sarah Toles and Mike and Penn Hagopian;
father-in-law, Mike Hagopian; nieces and nephews, David and Courtney Ceruti,
Joseph and Bettye Ann Doering, Jacob, Nora, Michael and Sarah Hagopian, Arlow
and Sammy Pastana, and Steven Toles; great-nephew, Isaac Toles. Mr. Pastana was
preceded in death by his mother, Alice Pastana.